eHealth and Practice Management

The RACGP recognises the crucial role GPs play in delivering essential healthcare and supports its Members with a range of resources covering topics relevant to general practice management and the use of of eHealth technologies.

The RACGP provides handbooks, guides, FAQs, information sheets and clinical checklists to help GPs better manage the day to day requirements of their practice and to support eHealth systems that improve patient care and create a more sustainable healthcare system. These resources provide practical and comprehensive advice on specific aspects of practice management to improve clinical and administrative outcomes.

General practice is at the forefront of using technology as part of delivering healthcare and managing business functions. The use of clinical desktop systems and the electronic management of information play an important role in the delivery of safe and high quality care for patients. General practice has specific requirements to manage and communicate healthcare information safely and securely.

The RACGP recognises that general practice staff require resources that provide practical guidance and advice to assist with managing information security and communication in general practice.

The RACGP has developed a number of resources to help Australian general practices develop greater awareness and control over what must be done – as well as when, how and by whom it should be done – in order to continuously monitor and improve their clinical practices and the service quality, treatment outcomes and patient experiences.

Responding to emergencies and pandemics requires strong collaborative partnerships to ensure effective coordination of planning, the delivery of services and the distribution of information and resources to respond to the situation.

Emergency events and pandemics can significantly impact on general practices from a business continuity and service delivery perspective. To mitigate the impact of such events on the physical practice, staff and patients it is important for general practices to have an up to date and practiced emergency response plan in place, covering all stages of an emergency from prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The RACGP provides a range of information and factsheets to assist general practices to develop, implement and revise their emergency response plan.

Telehealth video consultations are an alternative option to physical consultations. While in some situations a physical consultation will be preferred, there are many scenarios where a video consultation will enable more convenient and accessible healthcare delivery without compromising patient safety.

If you are you ready to make the move into telehealth the RACGP has developed a number of resources to help general practices get started with video consultations.

Medical practices operate within a legal and regulatory framework which determines how parties within a practice relate to each other and the external legal, financial and taxation responsibilities. Australian medical practices are subject to high levels of regulatory and compliance requirements determined by federal, state or territory, and local governments.

The RACGP has developed a range of resources to provide an overview of business structures and contractual arrangements. These resources provide general advice only and it is essential to obtain specific and individual advice from accounting and legal professionals.

General practice is distinctly different from other medical disciplines. The community in which GPs work, the range and complexity of illnesses, the ability to make a difference in people’s lives with thoughtful, and timely diagnosis and advice, all contribute to the rich and appealing fabric of general practice.

While general practice is worthwhile and valued, it can be highly stressful.

The RACGP has developed a range of resources to assist GPs work through issues relevant to their professional life and career and to protect and enhance personal being.

The RACGP Digital Business Kit (DBK) provides a suite of resources and general guidance to promote the adoption and meaningful use of technologies in general practice. The uptake of e-health technologies has the potential to improve the care of all Australians, particularly in aged care, chronic disease health service delivery and those in rural and remote areas.

The RACGP is a welcoming, collegiate environment delivering exceptional value to all members and is a leading professional voice advocating for an effective and sustainable primary healthcare system.

The OPTIMUS project was initiated by the RACGP after GPs raised the need for standardised functionality and system wide improvements across GP clinical desktop systems.

The RACGP eHealth Forum is an opportunity for leaders in the eHealth space, key stakeholders across the primary care sector and government to discuss issues currently affecting the profession and industry.

The RACGP recognises the crucial role GPs play in delivering essential healthcare. To support GPs a range of resources, covering a variety of topics have been developed. These include handbooks, guides, FAQs, information sheets and clinical checklists.

Advances in mobile devices and applications (‘apps’), better connections (mobile networks, Wi-Fi), and the ability to integrate new technology with existing services have all led to greater acceptance and uptake of mobile tools by industries and consumers alike. Adoption of mobile technology in general practice is a very recent phenomenon.

There is growing interest in the role mobile health (mHealth) can play in general practice. There are potential benefits in terms of both care delivery and business efficiency through the use of mobile tools such as smartphones, tablets and other medical devices (eg wireless monitors).